4 comments:

It's not too surpising that you must remove shoes. It's cool that the wooden floors are still the originals. Did they have special slippers?

Have you been to Nijo-jo, in Kyoto? I went there on my (only) trip to Japan, which was in 2004. That castle was smaller, but still quite beautiful. And it had remarkable floors that were actually designed to squeak when you walk on them, in order that no-one could sneak around to plot and evesdrop. The squeak was a pleasant chirping, and the floors are called "nightingale floors."

Thanks for the appreciation. And yes, one had to wear special slippers. Either that or go barefoot/in one's own socks.

Don't think I've been to Nijo-jo. My one visit to Kyoto went by in a whirl due to my going with a tour group some years back. (Never again -- going with a tour group, I mean.) OTOH, one'd think I'd remember the nightingale floors -- thanks for sharing that story, BTW! :)